Oklahoma Department of Transportation officials cut back on dozens of road and bridge projects in their eight-year plan in response to the Legislature’s handling of the state budget Monday. It was the first time since 2003 the agency made cuts to its rolling plan.

Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders can expect to be asked by Bobby Stem, president of the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors, to hold a special session to consider funding tens of millions of dollars to fix flood damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

Maintaining Oklahoma’s roads and bridges is about more than policy. It’s about daily commutes to work, weekend trips to lakes and parks and a prosperous Oklahoma. Each year, millions of dollars are put into the infrastructure of Oklahoma.